Tracer shotshell



July 1966 R. 1. COWLES ETAL 3,262,390

TRACER SHOTSHELL Filed May 29, 19 4 INVENTORS. RAYMOND 1. COWLES EDWARD D. LOW/FY JOSEPH W. SILVA WILL/AM B WOOD/PING A T TOP/V5) United States Patent 3,262,390 TRACER SHOTSHELL Raymond I. Cowles, Woodbridge, Edward D. Lowry, Branford, Joseph W. Silva, New Haven, and William B. Woodring, Branford, C0nn., assignors to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation Filed May 29, 1964, Ser. No. 371,210 11 Claims. (Cl. 102-42) This invention relates to tracer shotshells and tracer elements for use in tracer shotshells.

This invention more particularly relates to a shotshell having a novel tracer element adapted to accompany the shot columns in its flight to clearly indicate the trajectory of the shot column as it flies toward a target.

When a shooter fires at a moving target, the aiming point must be ahead of the moving target so that the projectile or projectiles and the moving target meet at a point in space and time. This leading of the target hecomes a highly individual motion representing a mental integration of the shooters experience and time of response. In the event of a miss, it is virtually impossible for the shooter to know accurately as to whether he fired ahead or behind or above or below the moving target. This inability to have a point of reference for correction leads to slow advancement of skill on the part of the shooter.

In the shooting games of skeet and trap, a shot is fired from a shotshell at a moving target. The need for an aid for the instruction of a novice in these games, or for the correction of an experienced shooter who is off in his timing, has led to many devices designed to indicate the trajectory of the shot. All such prior art devices, to our knowledge, have been ineffective in that they (1) do not follow the shot trajectory, and/or (2) they lead or lag the string of shot, and/ or (3) they have a range far exceeding the shot itself, and/or (4) they seriously alter the normal pattern of the shot column so that true indication of the shooters normal shooting habits and errors is not apparent.

The most common type of tracer element now used in tracer shotshells is a metallic cylinder or cup, weighted at the nose, with or without a rounded front end, and being approximately /8 inch long and about /4 inch in diameter. The base of the cylinder or cup is filled with a pyrotechnic mixture and the tracer element is positioned in an annular wad located directly adjacent the shot charge in the shotshell. The pyrotechnic mixture is ignited by means of powder gases penetrating through holes in the filler wads which communicate the powder charge with the tracer element.

The type of construction described above exhibits all of the faults that have heretofore made tracer shotshells unpopular and even dangerous. First, the ballistic form of the weighted cylinder is poor and it does not reliably strike within the shot pattern. Second, the cylinder or cup does not reliably free itself from the annular wad in which it is positioned and, in many instances, the wad and the tracer element travel together in a path widely divergent from the path of the shot. Third, the mass, velocity, and shape of the tracer element are such that the range of the tracer element far exceeds that of the shot and represents a danger beyond the limits of the skeet or trap field. Fourth, the annular space around the cylindrical tracer element allows the escape of propellant gases through the openings in the wad column into the shot producing a blown or irregular pattern. Frequently, also, the pyrotechnic charge volume and geometry are such that it continues to burn far beyond the target area and, therefore, constitute a fire hazard Other attempts to produce a tracer element for use in a shotshell have been made but have, likewise, been un- Patented July 26, 1966 "ice successful. One attempt has been to coat spherical, metallic elements on their entire surface with a pyrotechnic composition. Several of these elements are then positioned in the shotshell, dispersed in the shot column. Friction and compression are relied on to ignite the pyrotechnic material coated on the tracer elements. Such an arrangement is disclosed in United States Patent Number 1,305,115. In addition to the disadvantages already described above, this arrangement suffers from the further disadvantage of unreliability in igniting the tracer elements.

Another approach has been to dispose a tracer element adjacent the powder charge and below the wad column of the shotshell as disclosed in United States Patent Number 1,363,043. This arrangement insures that the tracer element is ignited. However, the tracer element, due to interference from the wads and the distance from the shot column, fails in all respects to indicate the true trajectory of the shot column.

In order to overcome the objections and deficiencies of the prior art devices noted above, applicants have produced a tracer element for use in a shotshell which exhibits none of the preceding faults and which constitute a safe and reliable means of indicating the trajectory of the shot.

This is accomplished by means of a spherical tracer element having a proper weight and size relationship which allows the tracer element to travel with the shot column and exhibit the same ballistic characteristics as the shot. A pyrotechnic composition is contained in a cavity inside the sphere, or in a preferred embodiment inside a cavity in a tail which is secured to the sphere. Applicants tracer vehicle is positioned in a shotshell directly adjacent the shot column and functions as a ball check to prevent propellant gases from entering the shot column and producing a blown or irregularly dispersed pattern. In the preferred embodiment in which the tail element is included as an integral part of the sphere, applicants novel tracer vehicle has the added advantages of faciltating proper placement and orientation of the tracer vehicle in the shotshell. In addition, the tail element serves as a stabilizer to insure that the burning pyrotechnic composition in the tracer element is always pointed toward the shooter.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel tracer element for shotshells and. the like which has the same ballistic characteristics as the shot and, therefore, travels with and accurately indicates the true trajectory of the shot column.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel tracer element for use in a shotshell which also acts as a ball check when positioned in the shotshell to prevent blown or irregularly dispersed patterns.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tracer vehicle for shotshells which maintains a proper orientation during handling and loading, and during its flight to the target.

It is another object of this invention to provide a shotshell having a tracer element positioned therein to correctly and accurately indicate the trajectory of the shot charge as it moves toward a target.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tracer shotshell having the same ballistic characteristics as a conventional shotshell without a tracer element.

These, and other objects and advantages of this invention, will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description described in connection with the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side view of a tracer shotshell according to this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view partially in section of the tracer vehicle shown in the shotshell of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side view partially in section of the tracer vehicle shown in FIGURE 2 with an alternate wad structure.

FIGURE 4 is a side view partially in section of the tracer element of FIGURE 1 positioned in a composite wad and shot protector structure.

FIGURE is a side view partially in section of an alternate embodiment of our tracer vehicle.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly FIG- URE 1, we show a shotshell generally indicated 1 which includes a tubular casing 2 which may be formed of plastic or paper. A metallic head 3 is secured to one end of the casing 2 and is provided with a primer opening 4. *Positioned in primer opening 4 is a primer 5. A base Wad 6 which may be formed integral with the casing 2 or which may be a separate component is positioned in the *base 'of the shotshell casingz. A powder charge 7 is located directly adjacent base wad 6. Overlaying the powder charge 7 is a wad 8 which is preferably a cup Wad. Positioned directly over wad '8 is an annular filler wad 9 having a central opening 10. Positioned directly adjacent filler wad 9 and closing one end of opening 10 is a tracer vehicle generally indicated 11. As shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, the tracer vehicle 11 includes a spherical body portion 12 and a tail portion 18 which extends downwardly inside opening 10. The tail portion 18 is provided with a recess 13 which opens toward the powder charge 7 when positioned in a shotshell. A pyrotechnic charge 14 is positioned inside recess 13 and is ignited by the powder charge 7 when the shotshell 1 is fired. Surrounding the tracer vehicle 11 and filling the upper portion of the shotshell casing 2 is shot 15. A shot protecting sleeve 16 of resilient material such as soft plastic or the like is positioned between the shot and the casing 2 to protect the shot as it travels down the barrel of the gun and to give an improved pattern. The forward end 17 of the shotshell is provided with an integral closure 18 which is formed by infolding the end of the casing 2 in a well-known manner. The annular opening 10 in filler wad 9 is relatively large in size with respect to the cylindrical portion 12 of the tracer vehicle so there is no tendency for the filler wad to adhere to the tracer vehicle when the filler wad is compressed during firing of the shotshell.

As described above, the tracer vehicle 11 in a preferred embodiment is provided with a spherical body portion 12 and an integral tail portion 18 which houses a pyrotechnic charge. The significance of this configuration is discussed below.

One of the prime requisites of a tracer vehicle for use in a shotshell is that it accurately follows the trajectory of the shot. In order for the tracer vehicle to follow the trajectory of the shot, it must have the same ballistic coefficient as the shot. The ballistic coefiicient may be stated to be a function of the shape, of the density, and of the diameter of the vehicle. Since shot particles are spherical, one of these factors can be held constant by giving the tracer vehicle a generally spherical configuration which is the same as the shot. By choosing a material of known density, it is possible, then, to calculate the desired diameter of the tracer vehicle or alternatively, it is possible to determine a desired diameter and then find a material of the proper density which will give the tracer vehicle the desired ballistic coefficient.

When the ballistic coefficient of the tracer vehicle is exactly equal to the ballistic coefficient of the shot, the vehicle can be expected to travel with the shot in exactly the same trajectory. The tracer vehicle, if desired, can also be made to lead the shot by giving the tracer vehicle a ballistic coefficient slightly greater than the coefficient of the shot, or to lag the shot by giving the tracer vehicle a ballistic coefficient somewhat less than the ballistic coefficient of the shot. For example, if it is desired to have the tracer vehicle lead the shot and the shell is loaded with No. 7 /2 shot, then the tracer vehicle can be selected having the ballistic coefficient of No. 6 shot. It is apparent, therefore, that the selection of a tracer vehicle having the proper shape, density, and diameter is an important feature of applicants invention.

The addition of a cylindrical tail 18 to the tracer vehicle as in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 also serves certain useful and important functions. First of all, the tail 18 acts as a stabilizing element to prevent the tracer vehicle from rotating in flight. This is due to air flow against the cylindrical tail of the tracer vehicle. The stabilizing tail 18 insures that the light from the ignited pyrotechnic charge is also directed toward the shooter.

The tail 18 also aids in positioning the tracer vehicle within the wad portion of the shotshell as the shell is loaded and maintains the pyrotechnic charge always turned in the. proper direction to insure ignition, The tail also acts to prevent the tracer vehicle from becoming disoriented in handling the shotshell after it has been loaded.

For the purposes of facilitating the loading of the tracer vehicle into sh-otshells in production equipment,'it may be desirable to surround the spherical portion of the vehicle with a frangible wad element as shown in FIGURE 3. The frangible wad 20 is designed on firing to break up, leaving the tracer vehicle unrestrained within the shot charge. Convenient materials for this purpose are the rigid or elastic foams made from common plastic materials such as styrene, urethane, epoxy, and the like. Nonfoa-med materials characterized by a fibrous, felt-like structure and made from a wide variety of materials are also suitable for use in the frangible wad 20.

In FIGURE 4, we shown another embodiment of the invention in which a composite structure 29 includes a cup wad portion 30, filler wad portion 31 and a shot protecting portion 32 as a single integral unit. The shot protecting portion 32 is slit longitudinally .as shown at 33 to divide the shot protecting portion into a plurality of sections. The tracer vehicle 11 is positioned in the composite structure 29 in the same manner as it is positioned in the shotshell of FIGURE 1. The composite structure. 29 is loaded in the shotshell and functions in the same manner as the separate elements, cup wad 8, filler wad 9 and shot-protecting sleeve 16 of FIGURE 1.

In FIGURE 5, we show an alternate embodiment of a tracer vehicle 40. The tracer vehicle 40 includes a spherical ball 41 having an opening 42 formed therein. A pyrotechnic charge 43 is positioned in opening 42.

The embodiment of FIGURE 5 functions in exactly the same manner as the preferred embodiment of the tracer vehicle shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 and is positioned in annular wad 9 as shown. The tail of the FIGURES 1 to 4 embodiment has been eliminated along with certain advantages attributable to the tail. However, tracer vehicle 40 is a suitable alternative to the embodiment described above.

In operation, the shotshell 1 shown in FIGURE 1 is fired in a conventional manner and exhibit exactly the same characteristics as a conventional shotshell without a tracer vehicle. Upon ignition of the power charge 7 by detonation of primer 5, burning gases are directed upwardly through an opening in the cup wad and through the annular recess in the filler wad portion to ignite a pyrotechnic mix positioned in the recess in the tracer vehicle. The opening in the cup wad may be preformed; however, it has been found that a cup wad without a preformed hole will rupture sufficiently to form an opening toward the tracer vehicle. The spherical portion of the tracer vehicle acts as a ball check to prevent the gas pressures from entering the shot charge 15 and causing a blown or unusually dispersed pattern. The cup wad, filler wad, shot-protecting sleeve, tracer vehicle and shot charge are driven down the barrel of a firearm. Upon leaving the barrel, the shot charge and the tracer vehicle separate from the other elements and travel toward the target with the pyrotechnic mix in the tracer ignited and trailing a visible signal which may be a light or a smoke trail depending on the type of pyrotechnic mix used.

The structural arrangement described in detail above provides a tracer shotshell which functions in the same manner as a similar shotshell without a tracer vehicle and, therefore, provides an accurate visible indication of the shooting habits and characteristics of an individual shooter.

The tracer vehicle of this invention follows the trajectory of the shot with great precision and decays in velocity at the same rate as the shot and does not, therefore, travel beyond the range of the shot and create a hazard.

While this invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations in design and structural modifications are also contemplated which are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A tracer vehicle for use in a shotshell to accompany the shot and visibly indicate the trajectory of said shot as it travels toward a target, said tracer vehicle including a spherical solid body portion, a cylindrical tail portion attached to said body portion and a pyrotechnic mix positioned in said cylindrical tail portion ignitable to produce a visible signal indicating the trajectory of said tracer vehicle, said cylindrical tail portion being operative to maintain said tracer vehicle oriented so that said signal is visible to a shooter as the tracer vehicle travels toward said target.

2. The tracer vehicle of claim 1 in which said spherical body portion has a diameter greater than the diameter of shot normally loaded in a shotshell with said vehicle, and the ballastic coefficient of said tracer vehicle is substantially equal to the ballistic coelficient of the shot.

3. A tracer shotshell including a tubular casing having a base and a mouth, a primer positioned in said base, a propellant in said casing adjacent said base, an over powder wad positioned adjacent said propellant, a filler wad positioned in said casing adjacent said over powder wad, said filler wad having a central opening extending therethrough, a tracer vehicle having a solid spherical body portion positioned in said casing adjacent said filler wad and closing one end of said central opening, said body having a cavity therein containing a combustible mixture directed toward said opening, shot positioned in said casing adjacent said tracer vehicle, a shot-protecting sleeve positioned in said casing between said shot and said casing, and a closure at said mouth, said spherical body portion of said tracer vehicle having a diameter greater than the diameter of said central opening and being operative as a ball check to prevent propel lant gases from entering said shot as the shotshell is fired.

4. The tracer shotshell of claim 3 in which a frangible wad element is positioned in said casing about said spherical body portion.

5. A tracer shotshell including a casing, a propellant charge positioned adjacent a base end of said casing and a column of shot positioned adjacent a month end of said casing, wad means positioned between said propellant charge and said shot column, a passageway in said wad means extending from the propellant charge at one end to said shot column at the other end, a tracer vehicle having a solid spherical body portion of a diameter greater than the diameter of said passageway at said other end, a tubular tail connected to said body portion, a pyrote hnic charge carried by said tracer vehicle in said tubular tail, said tracer vehicle being positioned in said shotshell with said spherical portion closing said other end of said passageway and said tubular tail directed toward said passageway, said spherical portion being operalive as a ball check valve to prevent propellant gases from flowing into said shot column as said shotshell is fired.

6, A tracer shotshell including an annular filler wad and a tracer vehicle, said annular wad having a central opening extending therethrough, said tracer vehicle including a spherical body portion seated on said filler wad having a diameter greater than the diameter of said central opening, a tail portion integral with said body portion extending downwardly into said central opening, and a pyrotechnic mix positioned in a recess in said tail portion.

7. A tracer vehicle for use in a cartridge containing shot, said tracer vehicle including a solid spherical body, a tubular tail attached to said body, and a pyrotechnic charge positioned in said tubular tail, said spherical body having a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of shot in a shotshell and a ballistic coefficient substantially equal to the ballistic coefiicient of said shot.

8. A tracer shotshell including a tubular casing having a base and a mouth, a primer positioned in said base, a propellant in said casing adjacent said base, an over powder wad positioned adjacent said propellant, a filler wad positioned in said casing adjacent said over powder wad, said filler wad having a central opening extending therethrough, a tracer vehicle having a spherical body portion positioned in said casing adjacent said filler wad and closing one end of said central opening, shot positioned in said casing adjacent said tracer vehicle, a closure at said mouth, said spherical body portion of said tracer vehicle having a diameter greater than the diameter of said central opening and being operative as a ball check to prevent propellant gases from entering said shot as the shotshell is fired, a tail portion fixed to said body portion, said tail portion having a recess formed therein, pyrotechnic mix positioned in said recess, said tail portion being positioned in said central opening in said filler wad with said pyrotechnic mix directed toward said propellant to insure ignition of said tracer vehicle.

9. The shotshell of claim 8 including a shot-protecting sleeve positioned in said casing between said shot and said casing.

10. The shotshell of claim 9 in which said over powder wad, said filler wad and said shot-protecting sleeve are formed as a composite integral structure.

11. The shotshell of claim 8 in which said over powder wad and said filler wad are a composite one piece structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887,989 11/1932 Brownsdow et al. 102-42 1,887,990 11/1932 Brownsdow et al. 10242 2,764,094 9/1956 Messerly et a1. 102-87 3,055,301 9/1962 Miller et a1. 102-42 3,095,817 7/1963 Clark 10295 3,142,254 7/1964 Grinzenberger 10242 3,180,265 4/1965 Rybak 102-95 BENIAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL FEINBERG, Examiner.

R. F. STAHL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TRACER VEHICLE FOR USE IN A SHOTSHELL TO ACCOMPANY THE SHOT AND VISIBLY INDICATE THE TRAJECTORY OF SAID SHOT AS IT TRAVELS TOWARD A TARGET, SAID TRACER VEHICLE INCLUDING A SPHERICAL SOLID BODY PORTION, A CYLINDRICAL TAIL PORTION ATTACHED TO SAID BODY PORTION AND A PYROTECHNIC MIX POSITIONED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL TAIL PORTION IGNITABLE TO PRODUCE A VISIBLE SIGNAL INDICATING THE TRAJECTORY OF SAID TRACER VEHICLE, SAID CYLINDRICAL TAIL PORTION BEING 